Sundance 2027 Adds a New FIPRESCI Critics Award for First-Time Filmmakers
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Confirmed: Sundance Institute has announced that FIPRESCI, the International Federation of Film Critics, will establish a jury at the festival for the first time, starting with the 2027 Boulder edition. A three critic panel will evaluate first time filmmakers in the World Cinema Dramatic and World Cinema Documentary categories and present two new prizes. The jury members themselves have not yet been named.
Last verified: September 21, 2026
What Sundance and FIPRESCI confirmed
| Fact | Status |
|---|---|
| FIPRESCI, founded in 1925, is a global network of professional film critics and journalists from more than 80 countries | Confirmed |
| Sundance and FIPRESCI are establishing a FIPRESCI jury at the festival for the first time, beginning with the 2027 Boulder edition | Confirmed |
| A three critic jury will evaluate debut filmmakers competing in the World Cinema Dramatic and World Cinema Documentary categories | Confirmed |
| The jury will present two new prizes, for Best Narrative and Best Documentary | Confirmed |
| Names of the three jury members and further selection details | Pending |
Sundance Institute announced the partnership directly on its own blog on July 8, 2026. Festival director Eugene Hernandez framed the alliance as a way to widen the spotlight on first time international filmmakers, calling it a chance to give early career directors in the World Cinema sections more critical attention as the festival settles into its new home. FIPRESCI juries already run at festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and Toronto, so the addition puts the Boulder edition in the same company as those events for critics’ prizes, something Park City era Sundance never had.
Why it matters
This is a programming detail, not a travel logistics one, but it matters for anyone following the festival closely rather than just planning a trip. A new FIPRESCI prize gives World Cinema Dramatic and World Cinema Documentary entries, sections that can otherwise get less attention than the flagship U.S. categories, a second layer of recognition that critics and distributors watch closely when deciding which films to cover after the festival ends. For background on how those competition sections are growing for the Boulder debut, see our earlier post on the Sundance 2027 lineup expansion. Journalists and critics who plan to cover the jury’s picks in person should also check our press accreditation guide, and our page on the confirmed 2027 festival schedule has the day by day dates this and other awards news will slot into.
What we’re watching
We’re watching for Sundance and FIPRESCI to name the three jury critics, which typically happens closer to the festival, and for whether the December lineup announcement confirms which World Cinema Dramatic and World Cinema Documentary titles are eligible for the new prizes.
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